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How one Michigan company is working with state to grow exports in China

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Chris Witham, president of Motion Dynamics, meets with Wen Tan and Zhengrong Zhou of Medtronic medical device company in Shanghai. Witham was joined by his sales and distribution rep, Grace Sheng, and Deanna Richeson, director of the MEDC's export program.
(Melissa Anders | MLive)

BEIJING — Chris Witham wasn't entirely sure what to expect when he made his first trip to China.

He already sells some of his Michigan-made medical device components to Chinese customers, but had never been to the country until he joined Gov. Rick Snyder's trade mission this past week.

Witham, president of Fruitport-based Motion Dynamics Corp. and mayor of North Muskegon, is among executives from 15 Michigan companies who traveled with officials from the Michigan Economic Development Corp.

He said the trip has exceeded his expectations.

"I think it's going to be a real opportunity for us, as far as number of customers - more so than what I thought even," he said.

Motion Dynamics was founded by Witham's father in 1992 and manufactures precision spring and wire components for medical devices and other industries.

One of those customers may be Achieva, a Shanghai-based medical device company. Witham met with company President and CEO Ping Ye Zhang at her Shanghai headquarters and showed her photos on his iPad of the minuscule parts his company makes. He also gave her samples.

Zhang, who studied in the U.S. and speaks English, seemed very receptive to doing business with him. She told MLive she likes purchasing parts from overseas firms because they meet her quality standards and specifications.

Motion Dynamics employs more than 70 people, including about five who are dedicated to Chinese products. Witham estimates he could add another five more if he meets his expectation of doubling his Chinese sales in three years. Full orders likely won’t start coming in until then since development takes a while for medical devices.

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MLive reporter business Melissa Anders is traveling to China and Japan to cover Gov. Rick Snyder's trade and investment mission. MLive is paying for her travel expenses.

Staff from the MEDC and Michigan China Center helped the small and medium-sized Michigan companies set up time with potential Chinese customers and accompanied them on the meetings. Witham also had help from his agent in China who handles his company's sales and distribution.

The MCC opened in Shanghai last year as an office that helps link businesses and organizations in Michigan and China for investment, export, education and tourism opportunities.

The MEDC pays for half of the company's travel expenses with the help of federal export assistance funds. Witham said the funding didn't impact his decision to come on the mission, but that he came because the state organized the trip and made it easier for him to dive into unknown territory.

He said he plans to return to China, and would like to join the governor's delegation if Snyder decides to make a fourth trade mission here.